Client Hall of Fame Interview with Leah Benson

by: Yuri Elkaim

Adam Elkaim: Good morning and welcome to another installment of Total Wellness Consulting’s Client Hall of Fame. My name again is Adam Elkaim, and today on the call, I would like to introduce our newest hall of fame inductee, Leah Benson. And, Leah, how are you doing this morning?

Leah Benson: Really good. Thanks.Adam: Excellent. Well, thanks so much for joining me on the call here. Now Leah has actually been an avid follower of ours since 2008. She is one of our veteran clients, one of our veteran followers, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to have her inducted into our hall of fame since she’s been one of our avid fans for so long now, almost since the inception of our company. Now Leah has purchased the Fitter U Fitness Program in the past, Super Nutrition Academy, some of the treadmill trainer programs as well as the Total Wellness Cleanse as well. Now, Leah, let’s start off here with the first question. Now what did your life look like before you were introduced to Yuri?Leah: Well, I had basically stopped exercising. I have exercised, you know. Well, I sort of, yeah, basically I had gone through a period of probably four to five years of not exercising, and so I’d gotten a bit chunky. And I was really not happy with that, and I wanted to make a difference. And so, you know, I had done it once before, you know, I don’t know, in the mid 90s or something. And I’d gotten kind of chunky, and I joined a gym, and that wasn’t possible here because I didn’t like the gyms around where I lived, and, you know, I didn’t like the offerings they had. And it’s just too hot to exercise outside in Florida in the summer.

Adam: Definitely.

Leah: Yeah. So I basically stopped exercising. And then I said to myself, “OK, this has got to stop.” And so I started, you know, I said, “OK, I have an iPod. I’m going to just, you know, I’m going to look for iPod workouts online.” And that’s, you know, that’s where I, you know, I found several. And Yuri’s was the one that, you know, the Treadmill Trainer, you know, series, starting with volume one is kind of where I started.

Adam: That’s awesome. Now when you found the Treadmill Trainer, the first one, that’s actually where I’d begun my weight loss journey as well with Yuri. Were you scared or skeptical at first when you first were inducted to the… or introduced, excuse me, to the programs?

Leah: Scared or skeptical? Gosh, I don’t… you know, honestly no because of, you know, the way that he presented it, you know, made a lot of sense. And, you know, I think he had examples of what it was going to be, like, and he showed the workout thing. And so, I mean, really, you know, I think it was like, I don’t know, 15 bucks at the time, you know, to buy that one. I was like, well, you know, I at least can try this. It’s not… You know, I’m a pretty adventurous person, so I can’t say that I was necessarily scared. I mean, I was scared in, like, “Oh my God, I’m not going to be able to, like, run.” I can’t run. First of all, I hate running. All I think is; make it stop make it stop. But I can tell you that, you know, 20 seconds on and 40 seconds off is, like, OK, I can do that, you know, and stop after if you want to. No problem, you know. And then, I mean, 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off, you know, great. I mean, even when I feel like I’ve gone on vacation and I need to start somewhere slow, I start on Treadmill Trainer volume one, because it’s so easy.

Adam: Yeah. And that’s the great thing with those programs is that we definitely have different workout volumes depending on your fitness level. A lot of people who are new to running or just looking to lose a few pounds. That’s why we have the introductory volume one because it is really the light jogging with light walking intervals, so it makes it very doable even for the newest beginner looking to lose as much pounds as they’re looking to lose. So it really makes it a lot more comfortable when you’re actually, you know, jumping in on the experience with Yuri for sure. Now, Leah, what pushed you over the edge to commit to making this change? Was it looking in the mirror one day and being, like, “I’m not happy with myself or how I look”? Or was it an energy situation? Or what do you think it was, exactly?

Leah: I didn’t feel like I looked good in clothes, I mean, just to be quite honest. And, you know, I knew that what I had to do was to do the physical work, I mean, you know. Energy level, I would say, yeah, maybe that was part of it. But it was definitely more like “I do not look good, and I don’t feel good because I don’t look good,” so for me, that was really it.

Adam: And they definitely go hand in hand, too. Right? Because if you don’t feel good…

Leah: Oh yeah.

Adam: If you don’t look good, you don’t feel good kind of thing, right? So, and they really go hand-in-hand. And physical exercise definitely gets you over those hurdles for sure. Now when you started the workout programs or whatever program you started with us, were you tested? Like, what were some of your initial challenges even with Treadmill Trainer volume one, for example?

Leah: Well, I would say that four minutes was not easy. You know, doing that four-minute session at the end of Treadmill Trainer volume one was it. And, you know, what comes to mind now is, you know, at the end of the session, you know, you’re able to say, “I really…” you know, whatever, “I don’t mind going on.” Like, I said, like Treadmill Trainer volume two, let’s just take that one, for example, because volume one, like, the point where I’m, like, I think I’m going die is, you know, the end of the four minutes at the end of the workout, and so, again, at that point. But as far as, like, Treadmill Trainer volume two, you know, he’s, like, you can stop now, but, you know, you can keep going, if you’re going to do this, you know, just don’t… you know, he’ll say, like, stop if you want, but if you’re going to do it, just keep on. You know, he’s very encouraging. I mean, he just… he has a real, like, knack for saying the right things in the right, you know, tone of voice, and it just works, you know.

Adam: Definitely.

Leah: That’s what I have to say about that, like; Yuri works for what I needed. Just… it’s very consistent. It’s very encouraging. He says the right things just at the point where I’m, like, “Um, yeah, no, I don’t think so.” And he’s, like, “So I know you’re telling me no, I don’t want to do this, and you’re cursing at me right now, but…” and so, you know, it’s, like, OK.

Adam: It’s so true because even when I do the Treadmill Trainer Programs myself, I also notice that right at the tipping point when you feel like you’re going to give up, Yuri comes on to the headphone and be, like, never give up, you can get through this.

Leah: Right.

Adam: So it’s almost like he kind of takes the thought process out of doing it and gives you those encouraging words right at the time you need it. And I think that’s been a huge help to many of our clients, actually, even for myself and for you, Leah. So, you know, it’s just the motivation on keep on going which really helps you overcome those obstacles, which is awesome.

Leah: Absolutely.

Adam: Now when you were going through the process of the weight loss, what was your scariest moment? Did you have a point where you just didn’t feel like you could do it anymore or you wanted to give up or anything along those lines?
Leah: That’s a good question, and I would say, I think I went from the Treadmill Trainer possibly to Fitter U Fitness, no, Fitter U.

Adam: OK.

Leah: That’s the three-month program, right?

Adam: That’s right, yep.

Leah: Fitter U, yeah, because then there’s Fitter U and then there’s Fitter U Fitness, which is the monthly thing. So Fitter U Fitness, I would say, maybe I thought, you know, the workouts started getting really hard. You know, they start… you know, he starts amping those up, and that’s… You know, I have a… it was a long time ago now, as you know.

Adam: Yeah.

Leah: But I want to say that at some point during doing that workout, you know, it’s like I think, oh, my God, it’s three months long, and there’s no way, you know. But the fact that it’s broken down into, you know, each month, and it never gets really boring. You know, he changes it up, so you think you’re dying, you hate this workout. Then the next one’s, you know, got something more tolerable in it. So I would say, did I ever feel like giving up? Because he always had more programs, no.

Adam: That’s awesome.

Leah: If I had to do the same program over and over and over and over, I would give up. But he’s always, like, you know, I mean, I don’t know, I think I must have got 12 of these things, you know.

Adam: Yes.

Leah: Yeah, maybe even exercise [things], I don’t know, but it just, it just, it goes on and on and on. I mean, it’s wonderful because I will use the same program for a good while, but then I just get to where I’m, like, OK, I’m bored with this, I don’t even want to, I can’t do this anymore.

Adam: Definitely, and I think…

Leah: That would be a point where, you know, I would give up, and I don’t because it’s …yeah, I’m repeating myself, so…

Adam: No. That’s OK, and I find that a majority of people that are doing workout programs and stuff like that, they continue to do the same workouts on a daily basis, which become really stale, and they kind of lose focus or motivation even on doing those workouts because they’re doing the same thing day in and day out.

Leah: Yeah.

Adam: And that’s really the important thing about having variety into workout programs is offering different workouts on a daily or a bi-daily basis so you don’t ever get tired of doing the same thing. And, you know, incorporating variety into your workouts is definitely the most effective way of working out and staying motivated at the same time.

Leah: For sure. I totally agree.

Adam: Now, Leah, when you were…

Leah: Um…

Adam: Sorry, go ahead.

Leah: Go on. Well, what I was going to say is one of the things that I think is pretty cool is that, you know, even if you, you know, like, sometimes I won’t want to do a whole program. I won’t want to do, like, you know, I don’t want to do Treadmill Trainer, and I don’t want to, like, start a whole month or three-month program. And so, we go on videos from back in the day, you know, where he’s got, like, I don’t know, one in particular is, like, one of the plyometric, you know. It takes 12 minutes. You know, it’s like, you know, forward and backward lunges, 20 seconds on, ten seconds off for two minutes, and then he goes through three more exercises. But that is one of my most favorite. Like, I don’t feel like working out, but I really want to work out. Boom! There’s this single, you know, workout that I can use any time. You know, I don’t know if it was actually in, like, maybe it was one of the Fitter U, I don’t even remember. It could have been a part of something, but it stands on its own just great, and it’s so short that it’s fantastic, and so, I don’t know, I just felt like saying that.

Adam: Yeah, and I think you’re mentioning one of the Fitter U Fitness workouts, Leah. And for people who don’t know, the Fitter U Fitness program’s actually a 24-month program that offers several different body weight workouts that you can actually do over a 24-month period. And the good thing is with those workouts, as Leah was mentioning, is that you can just take snippets of each workout and actually do them maybe 12 to 15 minutes a day. You don’t actually have to follow the entire program every time you go and work out. And that’s the thing; it’s all about effective working out as well. So not spending an hour and a half in the gym and doing things that are going to be more effective in a shorter amount of time, just like you were mentioning with one of those plyometric workouts from one of the months. And that’s awesome, for sure.

Leah: Feeling really good about myself and looking really good in a bathing suit.

Adam: That’s awesome. And honestly, like, when I started making the changes to my lifestyle when I started working with my brother, Yuri, you know, back in 2007, just a quick synopsis of my personal story is before we started working together, I was probably around 245 pounds myself and significantly overweight actually, and my brother told me, is like, you know, if we’re going to work together in this company, Adam, I really want you to start getting lean, active, and start working out a little more. So I started using the Treadmill Trainer programs myself, and I just told myself, I’m like, I looked in the mirror, and I’m not happy with the way I look, so, I’m, like, let’s make a change. So, over a six-month period, I ended up losing 35 to 40 pounds, four inches off my waist, and it made me believe that, “Hey, if I can use my brother’s programs and really gain from them, anyone can do them.”

Leah: Right.

Adam: And it seems like my story as well as yours, Leah, have definitely helped other people as well and will definitely appreciate hearing this information on our call today.

Leah: Yeah.

Adam: Now, Leah, were you able to inspire others with your successes, maybe your family, friends, anyone around your circle?

Leah: Yes.

Adam: Yeah.

Leah: Absolutely. I would say, yeah, for sure. And, you know, I mean, I hope you guys aren’t mad, but, you know, oftentimes, I like, email those guys, like, the Treadmill Trainer volume one to sort of get them started.

Adam: There’s no problem with that. It’s all about spreading the word of health and fitness and health and wellness, of course. Right? So if they can benefit from it as well, by all means, that’s totally cool.

Leah: Well, in that case, OK.

Adam: For sure. Well, Leah, I just wanted to thank you again for taking the time this morning to have the call with us, and I just wanted to introduce you into our hall of fame as well, and thanks so much for your time, and we look forward to helping you in the future as well.